"Showing" Up For Life

It seems that life is just a series of showing up--day after day. Some days seem like you know the script perfectly, others--not so much.

Today, I will be taking my National Boards for Professional Teaching Standards exam. This will be the third attempt to get it right. Granted, my score has improved (and thank God those are "banked") and all I have to do is show up, be present, and do the best I know how to do.

On Facebook, I had posted on my status for everyone to wish me luck and say prayers for me today when I take my test. The outpouring of good wishes made me feel beyond wonderful. I know I can do this. But one post made more sense to me than ever. My friend (and fellow actor and stage manager) had posted this: "Take a deep breath and focus .... concentrate only on the "show" ... not the "audience" ... you got this role down cold!"   THAT is the key! It seems I focus so much on the outcome, but forget that there's a process. So taking the test will be like a play: I've rehearsed and rehearsed, and now everything I know is coming together for a spot-on performance. I will carry this with me today and shine!

"It Runs in the Family"

"Heaven Can Wait"

"Stelaaaaaahhhhhh!"

Courtroom scene in "To Kill a Mockingbird"

The Lasting Effects of a Good Yoga Practice

Since last Saturday, I have felt absolutely wonderful. My muscles feel strong, and I definitely feel more mindful and confident. I honestly never thought I could sustain the long yoga practices like the ones I experienced at Rod Stryker's workshop. Truth be told, I can't seem to get enough yoga practice lately.

I am spending more time being mindful of my breathing and my body in space. Before it took such effort being so mindful of my breath and my body, but I think something finally clicked with me. My mindfulness is starting to feel very natural and effortless.

I think for me, the most surprising thing is that my body responded to demanding postures. For instance, I was able to get to step three of the Peacock Pose. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd be able to do any arm balances. I obviously had the strength, but I just needed confidence. With the confidence came the balance.

It really is true what they say about yoga. The benefits are far reaching and long lasting. I have also noticed that having a shift in perspective can open many doors to possibilities I never thought possible.

Para Yoga with Rod Stryker

Yesterday, March 17 on St. Patrick's Day, my friend, Mary K. and I went to the Para Yoga Conference with Rod Stryker. The conference was held in downtown Chicago. We got there early so as to avoid the St. Patrick's Day party goers on their way to the city.

We parked and got to the Loyola building. The conference was held on the 13th floor (I loved that!) in a beautifully ornate conference room with vaulted ceilings and windows. The atmosphere was light and relaxed. Just what I needed to counteract the excitement outside.

Rod started with an hour lecture, which really peaked my interest. Having brought no paper, I took notes on the last few blank pages in his book The Four Desires which I've mentioned in previous postings.

The rest of the morning was filled with beautiful asanas to get our muscles warmed up for deep stretching. I was amazed that my body was so in tune with his instruction. I felt alive and strong!

After lunch we continued with more lecture and asanas with just the right balance...Rod would take his cues from the group: He allowed time for us to ask him questions, and he graciously agreed to sign my book, even when the ink ran out of my pen. He seemed to want to give all of us as much attention as we needed.

Other than the fact that Chicago and I are not friends--the hustle and bustle is definitely not for me--I'd gladly return there to visit Rod Styker and Mia Park.

Reading The Benefits of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards

I've been reading, The Science of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards, by William Broad, and have found it utterly fascinating! I am only 1/3 of the way through it, but it is really engrossing. William Broad has taken a look at all the "claims" that yoga has made over the decades and has held them up to scientific studies.  His research has been quite diverse covering "not-so-scientific" claims, scientific claims with a slant (researchers were yogis themselves, and pure scientific studies with all the parameters that are included in sound, research-based studies. (I am no science geek, and my terminology may be way off, so if you're interested, pick up the book for a more sophisticated explanation.)

But what I've come away with is a more down-to-earth opinion of it all. Mr. Broad challenges the claims that the yoga community has made: One needs no other exercise than yoga. One of yoga's claims say that yoga is all you need for a complete exercise regimen. The claims have included that it is also an excellent cardio-vascular workout as well.

According to the science behind it, it is not. However, it does rank one of the best exercises for flexibility, social, emotional, and spiritual health, and reduces depression, pain, and cholesterol within the body. (I am only briefly touching on the benefits.)

But here's my question? WHY does yoga have to fit the bill for everything? WHY? Don't we need a variety of exercise to complete our cross-training needs? I take such claims with a grain of salt. In fact, I wish I had more time (or made more time) to have a more diversified workout, rather than yoga only.

To me, making these sorts of claims automatically holds oneself up to scrutiny. For example, fad diets that claim they are the perfect way to lose weight and keep it off, I feel, are short sighted. We need moderation in all types of foods, exercise, and medicines that we use. To me that just makes sense.

I really respect the way Willam Broad broaches this topic. He does so very respectfully and with humility. He, by the way, is a yogi himself! That to me is even more impressive. Having an open mind when doing or trying anything new, I think, is the safest way all the way around.

What to Wear to Yoga Class

In exactly two weeks, I will be going to a ParaYoga workshop in Chicago featuring Rod Stryker. Ever since reading his book The Four Desires...   I have made a promise to myself that I would attend one of his workshops when he came to the Chicago area. Well my day has come.

But here was my dilemma! What to wear? So I did a bit of research and found this site: Yoga 101--What to Wear    in which Deb, the blogger, gives tips on the best clothes to wear.  I sure found this very helpful. I already have wonderfully comfortable yoga pants, and well-worn tops...I love the feel of these against my body when I do yoga. Buying a new top is out of the question. I just want to be comfortable, and comfortable I will be. Oh, I am excited! Namaste.

Rod Stryker's Visit to Chicago

I am so excited! I will be attending a conference in Chicago featuring Rod Stryker. His book The Four Desires... really changed my life. Being able to quiet my mind through meditation has made all the difference in the world to me.

He makes meditation available to anyone. Whether or not you've meditated before, makes no difference; all can benefit from his tutelage.

I'm not sure what to expect, but whatever happens, I know I'll be changed for the better because of it. I'll be sure to share my experience. Namaste.

The Chocolate Meditation from the book: Mindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World

I just started a new book called Mindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World  by Mark Williams, PhD and Danny Penman, PhD. I heard Mark Williams being interviewed on NPR a few weeks back and decided I had to read it.

What the authors accomplished (quite easily, I'd say) is to write about how mindfulness affects our brain activity and how it can change our lives. I've heard so much about mindfulness through my study of yoga, but these gentlemen take it further. It seems they found proof of what meditators for centuries have known all along: Meditation on a regular basis can improve our lives in measureable ways from attitude to disease fighting.

I'm only in the first quarter of the book, but I found an activity that I thought was really intriguing. It's called "The Chocolate Meditation". The idea of this activity is to get some chocolate that you normally don't eat to use for the meditation. For example, if you are a milk chocolate lover, try dark chocolate for this activity and vice versa.

The rules are simple:

• Open packet, inhale aroma, let it consume you.
• Break off piece and really look at it, examine every aspect of it.
• Pop in mouth, resisting the urge to chew it or suck on it...just let it melt on your tongue. Observe the flavors.
• If your mind wanders, gentle bring your attention back to the chocolate.
• Once the chocolate has completely melted, swallow slowly, observing how it glides down your throat.
• Continue until desired amount of chocolate is finished.
• Observe how you feel eating chocolate this way vs. wolfing it down.

Write about it if you'd like...even better, share here if you wish. I plan on doing this after I go shopping for the perfect chocolate bar. I will post the results. Have fun with this!

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running #2

I finished reading the book, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami on the plane to Georgia on Thursday. I went to visit my sister and her family, and I thought I had enough of the book left to read down there and back. Unfortunately, I finished it too soon!

I did have a chance to reflect on one quote over the weekend that I really liked: "No matter how much you might command your body to perform, don't count on it to immediately obey." No kidding! I have done yoga for more than four years, and there are ways that I wish my body would obey, but doesn't. I could, and easily do, look at all my body can't do, rather than look at what it can do. I am definitely way more flexible than I ever thought possible. My arms, back and legs are really firm--my stomach, even after two kids, is firmer than I'd ever expected. So what I need to focus on is how well my body has adapted to yoga.

I did notice that the author was a self depricating person. I'm reading this thinking, "Wow! I can't believe he ran a 60 mile marathon!" And he is looking at what he can't do or how difficult things are for him. But then I thought, I am just as self depricating as he is! So this book made me realize that even the most disciplined of people see themselves as imperfect human beings. It's just a base human trait that I believe keeps us all humble. This book was definitely a worthwhile read.

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

Last night I started reading the book "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" by Haruki Murakami, and I am completely immersed. I am not a runner, have no wish to be a runner, about fall over if I run around the block, but this book is so thoughtful and humble that I felt I needed to share this with you all.

Here are a couple of quotes from the book that I've been contemplating since last night:

"It's not much fun to be misunderstood or criticized, but rather a painful experience that hurts people deeply." (p. 19)  I know that when I deeply reflect on the criticisms I receive, I can begin to see the hurt I've put on others by criticizing them.   It's much easier to feel pity for myself than to put my ego aside and reflect on my behaviors. The initial reaction I get when I realize I've hurt someone is to feel shame. When I admit to the other person my part in a miscommunication, I find that I'm able to forgive myself (not an easy task). And if I am lucky, others will forgive my transgression in return.

"Emotional hurt is the price a person has to pay in order to be independent."
(p. 19) I sure can relate to this. During my life I have made decisions that were not accepted by many. The emotional abandonment I felt was deep, but in the long run, I stuck to my own principles and have emerged stronger. This quote really put down the feelings I've had in one succinct sentence.

At the moment I'm only on chapter 3 and I'm totally engrossed. If you get a chance to read it, please leave a comment and let me know your impressions. Namaste.

Reflections on Dolphin Pose

I found this terrific youtube clip that really gets your shoulders ready for the dolphin pose and the forearm balance. This gal, Esther, shows an easy (really it is!) step-by-step sequence to do the dolphin pose safely. Then at the end she beautifully demonstrates how to hop up into a forearm balance.

I found all the sequences leading up to the dolphin pose really invigorating. My legs and arms were shaking by the time that part of the sequence was over, but it really gave me the confidence that someday I will be able to hop up into a forearm pose. Try it out--you may just like it!!! Namaste

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmBzNtSXRdE